The Wichita Voters for Truth PAC sent out this hit piece against State Rep candidate Jan Beemer in the Nov 2006 election, but never filed its Jan 2007 PAC report with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission explaining how much money was raised and spent on that mailing. Bruce McKinney from Wichita was the Chair and Treasurer of this PAC.
According to the June 24, 2005 Wichita Eagle, “Gay Pride Parade, Festival Sunday”, Bruce McKinney organized the first Wichita gay pride events in 1990 and was quoted by the Eagle June 22, 2007, “Parade and Festival Part of Gay Pride Event,” about last year’s event. Bruce will likely be at the 2008 Pride Parade and Pride Festival this Sunday in Wichita, so if anyone sees Bruce at these events will you remind him the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission would like to talk to him about his missing PAC report from 2007?
The Lawrence-Journal World can find Mr. McKinney for an article in March 2008, but the Kansas Ethics Commission cannot find Mr. McKinney because he doesn’t accept mail from them at any of his known addresses. According to the Journal-World in March 2008: “Bruce McKinney is one of those who wanted to be interviewed” for that article. Oddly, Mr. McKinney doesn’t appear to want to be interviewed by an investigator from the Ethics Commission.
McKinney was one of the four contributors to the Wichita Voter for Truth PAC, but the known “big money” donors to the PAC were John and Cheryl Carmichael, who each gave $350 in the one report that was filed. John Carmichael was nominated by Gov. Sebelius to be the head of the Kansas Human Rights Commission but the Kansas Senate failed to confirm that appointment and it was withdrawn in May 2008. Cheryl Carmichael is the Treasurer for the Sedgwick County Democratic Party. While legally the Carmichaels are under no obligation to get the PAC report filed with the Ethics Commission, shouldn’t Democratic Party activists in Wichita want to make sure they only associate with PACs that are obeying Kansas Law?
There is still time before the 2008 elections start for fellow Democratic Party activists to encourage Bruce McKinney to complete the 2006 election cycle by filing the missing report for the Wichita Voters for Truth PAC.
While there may be disagreement on political issues in Kansas, shouldn’t we all agree to comply with the ethics laws that govern our elections?
Related:
- “Wichita Voters for Truth” Political Action Committee Ignores Reporting Requirements. Can any Kansas PAC now use this reporting scam? Kansas Meadowlark, Dec 10, 2007.
- Gov. Sebelius appoints HUGE Democratic donor, John Carmichael, to Chair Kansas Human Rights Commission. Kansas Meadowlark, Feb 29, 2008.
- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius Withdraws Carmichael Appointment to Kansas Human Rights Commission, Kansas Meadowlark, May 5, 2008.
Tags: ethics violation, failure to file, Political Action Committee (PAC), Wichita Voters for Truth PAC
